Jamora Moving On

Talo Steves TotalBlueSports.com

Jan 8, 2010

Kahuku High School defensive tackle Hau’oli Jamora has decided to decommit from BYU. The 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound defensive tackle has narrowed down his choices and will soon make a new commitment to a different school. BYU has won 10 or more games in four straight years and is hauling in a highly ranked recruiting class. BYU’s football program also produced two academic All-Americans this season, more than any other college program except for Penn State. So, the question is, why would anyone want to decommit from a program establishing itself as one of the best in the country? Defensive lineman Hau’oli Jamora decided that he wasn’t certain that BYU was the place for him. “Yeah, I kind of committed to soon without knowing what I wanted,” he said. So, Jamora is now looking at other programs. “I decommitted from BYU and have trips set up for the University of Washington, Boise State, Oregon State and [Hawaii],” said Jamora. “I would have to say those are my top four. BYU was the first college that I had seen and I was still young. I wasn’t really familiar with the recruiting process at all and feel I made my decision too quick for myself. I feel I kind of had to reevaluate everything and mature a little and have my own perspective of things a little more in what I want in life.” Jamora still expressed respect for BYU, however. “It’s nothing against BYU and they have a great program, great coaches and the Church is awesome,” Jamora said. “It’s been tough, it really has. I’m just trying to stay humble and be levelheaded about this whole thing. I haven’t really called to tell the coaches that I wasn’t coming. I feel really bad and when I talked to Coach Mendenhall it was really hard. I know I can’t make everyone happy but I haven’t really told them. I’ve talked to other coaches like Anae and Kaufusi and them.” Jamora said one reason one committed to BYU was to please his high school coaches. “Coach Brad Anae is one of our coaches over here at Kahuku and he really helped me out,” Jamora said. “We are easily in touch. Brad Anae is Coach Anae’s older brother and he coaches defensive line here at Kahuku. He’s a very good guy and was very helpful to me. He and [defensive coordinator] Kimo [Haiola] wanted me to go there. I kind of wanted to do it because of me and what I can do rather than what other people say.” Jamora expressed appreciation for the help his coaches gave him, but didn’t want to go to BYU for the wrong reasons. “[My coaches] really mean well and had a big impact on me getting a scholarship to BYU. I really feel like they were really trying to help me get a scholarship there, and I know they were just trying to help me, so I took it as, ‘Well, that’s great!’ They really helped me out and I’m grateful for that. I really appreciate everything they’ve done for me and all those up there at BYU. I really feel that BYU helped open up some doors for me and some options that I feel might be better for me, and for that I’m very grateful for all they had done for me up there.” BYU was the first school to offer Jamora a scholarship, so he also wanted to see what other options would open up if he became available for recruitment again. “I kind of feel that during the season I kind of messed things up for myself,” Jamora said. “By committing early, I feel like I kind of scared others away and not opening up other opportunities for myself. You know, kind of closed all my doors early by not trying to explore my options. People would say, ‘Who’s that?’ and they would say, ‘Oh, that’s Hau’oli Jamora and he’s committed to BYU.’ Then they won’t talk to me.” Although he hasn’t made a decision regarding what school he will now attend, and all the aforementioned schools are still on the table, Jamora said Washington is currently in the lead “a little bit.” “I want to go into the medical field and they’re in the top 10 in public medical schools in the USA, so that’s a plus. That’s really the bottom line for me. “Also their coaching staff is really good. They have USC coaches over there. Their head coach [Steve Sarkisian] was an SC offensive coordinator when they were at the top of their game. Also, their defensive coordinator [Nick Holt] was over there. Last year they were 0-12 and this year they‘ve kind of turned it around to some pluses, and they need some defensive ends over there too. I haven’t gone on my recruiting trip over there yet and I’ll be going next weekend.” Jamora said Boise State is a great program with great coaches, and that the team is a tight knit group. “They just beat TCU and even though they’re in the WAC they step up every year. They may not have the biggest or fastest players but they’ve got really good coaching.” Oregon State also appeals to Jamora for a number of reasons. “Oregon State, well, they’re a good Pac-10 school and in a nice area. There’s a lot of Polys over there so I would feel more at home, and they also need some defensive ends over there too. So I’m giving them a good look too and trying to be fair and levelheaded about it.” Jamora also said he likes Oregon State defensive line coach Joe Seumalo, who played at Hawaii and has been coaching at Oregon State for many years. Then there is the University of Hawaii, a college close to home. “One of the most important things to me, and will always be, is my family,” Jamora said. “I’m lucky enough to see them every day. It’s not like I don’t want to get out of the nest, but I can come see my family if I need to. I could come home on the weekends or come to celebrations or have family close by if I need them. I would also have the chance to experience everything with them and they would be able to come to my games to see me play.” So when will Jamora make his final decision? “I’m going to wait until I’ve taken all of my trips,” said Jamora. “I want to make sure I know as much as I can so I can make the right decision for me. After I do that, then I’ll make my decision.”